PCBTok is Your Extraordinary PCB Plating Provider

PCBTok’s PCB Plating process is thoroughly planned. This is to ensure that it will be from any errors and issues that may hinder the overall circuit board to perform its primary goal.

  • A decade and two in the PCB construction industry.
  • We offer return services within the 24-hour purchase.
  • We are comprised of 500 and more personnel.
  • Technical and sales experts are available 24/7.
  • Provide constant updates with regards to your quote.
Get Our Best Quotation
Quick Quote

PCBTok’s PCB Plating is Designed to Last

PCBTok has been consistent in offering our consumers a quality-tested PCB Plating process. It is one of our missions to only provide quality PCB Plating because we want our customers to utilize their PCB at a maximum level.

We have our highly-skilled and experienced experts on standby to assist you with any inquiries you have with our PCB Plating and other PCB Types of products.

If you think we are capable of providing your needs, hit the inquiry button immediately!

PCBTok will not want to deliver you a PCB Plating that is low-grade, this might affect the overall performance of your board. Thus, we constantly run our PCB Plating through various tests.

Read More

PCB Plating By Feature

HASL PCB Plating

The HASL PCB is the most popular finish both in the industry and the engineering consumers. One of the advantages of a HASL is its ability to accommodate reworks easily without any issues, and it is considerably adjustable.

Immersion Tin PCB Plating

The Immersion Tin PCB deploys chemicals in its process. One of the benefits of utilizing an Immersion Tin in your PCB Plating is that there’s no lead needed in operation, making this follow the standard guidelines and RoHS compliant.

ENIG PCB Plating

The ENIG PCB process is fairly simple. It is comprised of two metallic layers; gold and nickel, in which the gold layer is on top of the thin nickel. The soldered components are implanted on the nickel layer, and the gold secures it.

Immersion Silver PCB Plating

The Immersion Silver PCB is famous for engineers because it stops the conductors of copper from deteriorating and oxidation. Also, it offers an excellent finish on its surface. Furthermore, this sort of surface finish can be reworked; it’ll save you from future costs.

Carbon Ink PCB Plating

The Carbon Ink PCB is the ideal alternative for a Hard Gold one due to its affordability compared to Hard Gold. This is known to be highly sturdy, hence, making it a very reliable one considering its inexpensive cost.

Hard Gold PCB Plating

The Hard Gold PCB is considered reliable because of its extreme robustness; this makes this popular with engineering consumers. The only downside of the Hard Gold is its costly price and its poor solderability feature.

PCB Plating By Materials (5)

  • Copper PCB Plating

    Heavy Copper PCB is the most common material used in the PCB Plating fabrication process. This is the material deployed in the Via Plating since this sub-category of PCB Plating requires filling copper through a drill hole.

  • Tin PCB Plating

    The Tin PCB Plating ensures that all of the board’s copper traces will be masked off during the PCB Etching period. Its main goal is to prevent possible deterioration and corrosion by covering the copper traces with tin.

  • Nickel PCB Plating

    The Nickel PCB Plating is the primary material deployed in the surface finishing/plating sub-category of the PCB Plating process. Since it belongs to the surface finishing category; its aim is to protect the traces from degradation.

  • Gold PCB Plating

    The Gold PCB Plating is another material deployed in the surface plating sub-category of the PCB Plating process. Just like its other family of elements, it also encompasses the same mission as what the others do.

  • Film PCB

    The Film PCB Plating is one of the most commonly deployed materials in-circuit production, not just for plating but also for hole covering and etching. A film is put on top of the PCB, to make it a sensitive circuit board.

PCB Plating By Copper Thickness (6)

  • 2 oz PCB Plating

    The 2 oz PCB thickness is recognized as the standard thickness in plating a circuit board. One of the advantages of a 2 oz thickness is its thermal performance; it is a way better option compared to the 1 oz thickness.

  • 3 oz PCB Plating

    The 3 oz PCB is known to be suitable and ideal for several applications. Furthermore, it encompasses a variety of benefits. One of its advantages is its capability to enhance the transmission of signals on a circuit board.

  • 4 oz PCB Plating

    The 4 oz PCB is frequently deployed in applications where it emits high-power currents. Furthermore, both sides of a 4 oz can be utilized; making it cost-effective. Also, it is considered to be fairly unique among others.

  • 6 oz PCB Plating

    The 6 oz PCB is considered to be thick enough if you compare it to the others, thus it provides an extreme and efficient strength mechanically and is recognized to have more outstanding thermal conductivity than others.

  • 10 oz PCB Plating

    The 10 oz PCB is built to have a smooth and flat surface that makes it perfectly ideal for soldering components on it. Furthermore, it has exceptional thermal management, making it suitable for high-voltage applications.

  • 12 oz PCB Plating

    The 12 oz PCB conducts way better thermal management efficiency than the 10 oz. The more heavy and thick the board is, the more it functions well in operations where it requires tolerance to heat, but with a limit.

Pros of Utilizing PCB Plating

Since PCB plating is considered to be the most significant step in creating a high-quality PCB, it is crucial to talk about the benefits that it may provide.

  • Issues – The primary aim of PCB Plating is to prevent moisture, contamination, and oxidation through the board.
  • Surface Texture – Through plating, it produces a surface that is perfect for soldering; attractive, smooth, aesthetics, and clean.
  • Defects and Errors – Plating helps minimize downtime of the PCB, hence making it relatively inexpensive in the long run.

With the PCB Plating method, you will guarantee that all of your PCBs will run in a smooth and perfect condition. Inquire straight away!

Pros of Utilizing PCB Plating
Different PCB Plating Styles

Different PCB Plating Styles

PCB Plating can be easily understood with the following two styles.

  • Via Plating – This deploys a metallic alloy, specifically copper. The primary purpose of this plating is to provide an ideal trail for current; this is commonly known as plating Through-Hole in the vias.
  • Surface Plating/Finishing – It utilizes the following metallic alloy: Gold, nickel, tin, and silver. This process involves covering the PCB surface to avoid corrosion, oxidation, and contamination.

These two plating styles have only one goal, and that is to assist in ensuring the smooth flow of current over board wiring connections. Give us a message to know more!

Ways of PCB Plating

There are four ways of PCB Plating; however, all of them still have the same mission.

  • Finger Plating – Using this approach, rare metals like gold can have stronger resistance to abrasion and reduced contact impedance.
  • Through-Hole Plating – This is very significant in PCB drilling; since there’s no etchback in this approach.
  • Reel Linkage Selective Plating – Since it prints particular copper sheet pieces, this is somewhat comparable to the brush plating approach.
  • Brush Plating – This approach is ideal for fixing waste boards.

If you have any confusion and queries regarding this or if you want to know more about these four; reach us out and we’ll be glad to answer you!

Ways of PCB Plating

Go for PCBTok’s Outstanding PCB Plating Process

Go for PCBTok’s Outstanding PCB Plating Process
Go for PCBTok’s Outstanding PCB Plating Process

PCBTok has been offering high-grade services in the PCB Plating process for more than a decade already; we are fully compliant in terms of the standard guidelines.

For us to produce a quality PCB for you, we have made sure that our PCB Plating is functional. This means that we have tested various ways to determine if it really does its job as plating.

We are hungry for providing you with a PCB that is worth having; hence, we have our highly-skilled professionals to answer all of your concerns regarding our PCB Plating.

If you’re curious as to how we make all of our customers satisfied with our services and products, feel free to contact us; we’ll respond to your concerns in less than an hour or so.

PCB Plating Fabrication

PCB Plating Purpose

The primary purpose of PCB Plating is to protect the PCBs from oxidation and damage.

Another significant purpose of PCB Plating is to provide the consumers with a surface finish that is clean and smooth; making it perfect for soldering and assembly.

There are varieties of PCB Plating processes, and all of them have their own way to reach their goals as a plating approach.

Regardless of what plating approach you opt for, we at PCBTok will make sure that your PCB will perform the way it should be with zero errors and defect in plating.

Kindly send us a message to know more about this!

PCB Plating Quality Control

PCBTok is fully compliant with RoHS, UL, IPC, and ISO to ensure smooth PCB Plating.

Apart from the certifications and accreditations we have gathered, a series of evaluations and inspections is thoroughly conducted each time we conduct this approach.

We have made sure that we are satisfied with all of these certifications and accreditation to perform the PCB Plating in the highest quality possible.

PCBTok always considers your views as a consumer and user of our PCB Plated PCBs. Hence, we are fully drawn to providing a perfect PCB Plating output.

If this puts you at ease, contact us immediately for quick assistance!

PCB Plating
PCBTok - China’s Reputable PCB Plating Expert

We have been performing PCB Plating to all of our products for more than 12 years already; we are highly-experienced

We guarantee an exceptional and praiseworthy output sent out to your doorstep

PCB Plating Production Details As Following Up

NO Item Technical Specification
Standard Advanced
1 Layer Count 1-20 layers 22-40 layer
2 Base Material KB、Shengyi、ShengyiSF305、FR408、FR408HR、IS410、FR406、GETEK、370HR、IT180A、Rogers4350、Rogers400、PTFE Laminates(Rogers series、Taconic series、Arlon series、Nelco series)、Rogers/Taconic/Arlon/Nelco laminate with FR-4 material(including partial Ro4350B hybrid laminating with FR-4)
3 PCB Type Rigid PCB/FPC/Flex-Rigid Backplane、HDI、High multi-layer blind&buried PCB、Embedded Capacitance、Embedded resistance board 、Heavy copper power PCB、Backdrill.
4 Lamination type Blind&buried via type Mechanical blind&burried vias with less than 3 times laminating Mechanical blind&burried vias with less than 2 times laminating
HDI PCB 1+n+1,1+1+n+1+1,2+n+2,3+n+3(n buried vias≤0.3mm),Laser blind via can be filling plating 1+n+1,1+1+n+1+1,2+n+2,3+n+3(n buried vias≤0.3mm),Laser blind via can be filling plating
5 Finished Board Thickness 0.2-3.2mm 3.4-7mm
6 Minimum Core Thickness 0.15mm(6mil) 0.1mm(4mil)
7 Copper Thickness Min. 1/2 OZ, Max. 4 OZ Min. 1/3 OZ, Max. 10 OZ
8 PTH Wall 20um(0.8mil) 25um(1mil)
9 Maximum Board Size 500*600mm(19”*23”) 1100*500mm(43”*19”)
10 Hole Min laser drilling size 4mil 4mil
Max laser drilling size 6mil 6mil
Max aspect ratio for Hole plate 10:1(hole diameter>8mil) 20:1
Max aspect ratio for laser via filling plating 0.9:1(Depth included copper thickness) 1:1(Depth included copper thickness)
Max aspect ratio for mechanical depth-
control drilling board(Blind hole drilling depth/blind hole size)
0.8:1(drilling tool size≥10mil) 1.3:1(drilling tool size≤8mil),1.15:1(drilling tool size≥10mil)
Min. depth of Mechanical depth-control(back drill) 8mil 8mil
Min gap between hole wall and
conductor (None blind and buried via PCB)
7mil(≤8L),9mil(10-14L),10mil(>14L) 5.5mil(≤8L),6.5mil(10-14L),7mil(>14L)
Min gap between hole wall conductor (Blind and buried via PCB) 8mil(1 times laminating),10mil(2 times laminating), 12mil(3 times laminating) 7mil(1 time laminating), 8mil(2 times laminating), 9mil(3 times laminating)
Min gab between hole wall conductor(Laser blind hole buried via PCB) 7mil(1+N+1);8mil(1+1+N+1+1 or 2+N+2) 7mil(1+N+1);8mil(1+1+N+1+1 or 2+N+2)
Min space between laser holes and conductor 6mil 5mil
Min space between hole walls in different net 10mil 10mil
Min space between hole walls in the same net 6mil(thru-hole& laser hole PCB),10mil(Mechanical blind&buried PCB) 6mil(thru-hole& laser hole PCB),10mil(Mechanical blind&buried PCB)
Min space bwteen NPTH hole walls 8mil 8mil
Hole location tolerance ±2mil ±2mil
NPTH tolerance ±2mil ±2mil
Pressfit holes tolerance ±2mil ±2mil
Countersink depth tolerance ±6mil ±6mil
Countersink hole size tolerance ±6mil ±6mil
11 Pad(ring) Min Pad size for laser drillings 10mil(for 4mil laser via),11mil(for 5mil laser via) 10mil(for 4mil laser via),11mil(for 5mil laser via)
Min Pad size for mechanical drillings 16mil(8mil drillings) 16mil(8mil drillings)
Min BGA pad size HASL:10mil, LF HASL:12mil, other surface technics are 10mil(7mil is ok for flash gold) HASL:10mil, LF HASL:12mil, other surface technics are 7mi
Pad size tolerance(BGA) ±1.5mil(pad size≤10mil);±15%(pad size>10mil) ±1.2mil(pad size≤12mil);±10%(pad size≥12mil)
12 Width/Space Internal Layer 1/2OZ:3/3mil 1/2OZ:3/3mil
1OZ: 3/4mil 1OZ: 3/4mil
2OZ: 4/5.5mil 2OZ: 4/5mil
3OZ: 5/8mil 3OZ: 5/8mil
4OZ: 6/11mil 4OZ: 6/11mil
5OZ: 7/14mil 5OZ: 7/13.5mil
6OZ: 8/16mil 6OZ: 8/15mil
7OZ: 9/19mil 7OZ: 9/18mil
8OZ: 10/22mil 8OZ: 10/21mil
9OZ: 11/25mil 9OZ: 11/24mil
10OZ: 12/28mil 10OZ: 12/27mil
External Layer 1/3OZ:3.5/4mil 1/3OZ:3/3mil
1/2OZ:3.9/4.5mil 1/2OZ:3.5/3.5mil
1OZ: 4.8/5mil 1OZ: 4.5/5mil
1.43OZ(positive):4.5/7 1.43OZ(positive):4.5/6
1.43OZ(negative ):5/8 1.43OZ(negative ):5/7
2OZ: 6/8mil 2OZ: 6/7mil
3OZ: 6/12mil 3OZ: 6/10mil
4OZ: 7.5/15mil 4OZ: 7.5/13mil
5OZ: 9/18mil 5OZ: 9/16mil
6OZ: 10/21mil 6OZ: 10/19mil
7OZ: 11/25mil 7OZ: 11/22mil
8OZ: 12/29mil 8OZ: 12/26mil
9OZ: 13/33mil 9OZ: 13/30mil
10OZ: 14/38mil 10OZ: 14/35mil
13 Dimension Tolerance Hole Position 0.08 ( 3 mils)
Conductor Width(W) 20% Deviation of Master
A/W
1mil Deviation of Master
A/W
Outline Dimension 0.15 mm ( 6 mils) 0.10 mm ( 4 mils)
Conductors & Outline
( C – O )
0.15 mm ( 6 mils) 0.13 mm ( 5 mils)
Warp and Twist 0.75% 0.50%
14 Solder Mask Max drilling tool size for via filled with Soldermask (single side) 35.4mil 35.4mil
Soldermask color Green, Black, Blue, Red, White, Yellow,Purple matte/glossy
Silkscreen color White, Black,Blue,Yellow
Max hole size for via filled with Blue glue aluminium 197mil 197mil
Finish hole size for via filled with resin  4-25.4mil  4-25.4mil
Max aspect ratio for via filled with resin board 8:1 12:1
Min width of soldermask bridge Base copper≤0.5 oz、Immersion Tin: 7.5mil(Black), 5.5mil(Other color) , 8mil( on copper area)
Base copper≤0.5 oz、Finish treatment not Immersion Tin : 5.5 mil(Black,extremity 5mil), 4mil(Other
color,extremity 3.5mil) , 8mil( on copper area
Base coppe 1 oz: 4mil(Green), 5mil(Other color) , 5.5mil(Black,extremity 5mil),8mil( on copper area)
Base copper 1.43 oz: 4mil(Green), 5.5mil(Other color) , 6mil(Black), 8mil( on copper area)
Base copper 2 oz-4 oz: 6mil, 8mil( on copper area)
15 Surface Treatment Lead free Flash gold(electroplated gold)、ENIG、Hard gold、Flash gold、HASL Lead free、OSP、ENEPIG、Soft gold、Immersion silver、Immersion Tin、ENIG+OSP,ENIG+Gold finger,Flash gold(electroplated gold)+Gold finger,Immersion silver+Gold finger,Immersion Tin+Gold finge
Leaded Leaded HASL
Aspect ratio 10:1(HASL Lead free、HASL Lead、ENIG、Immersion Tin、Immersion silver、ENEPIG);8:1(OSP)
Max finished size HASL Lead 22″*39″;HASL Lead free 22″*24″;Flash gold 24″*24″;Hard gold 24″*28″;ENIG 21″*27″;Flash gold(electroplated gold) 21″*48″;Immersion Tin 16″*21″;Immersion silver 16″*18″;OSP 24″*40″;
Min finished size HASL Lead 5″*6″;HASL Lead free 10″*10″;Flash gold 12″*16″;Hard gold 3″*3″;Flash gold(electroplated gold) 8″*10″;Immersion Tin 2″*4″;Immersion silver 2″*4″;OSP 2″*2″;
PCB thickness HASL Lead 0.6-4.0mm;HASL Lead free 0.6-4.0mm;Flash gold 1.0-3.2mm;Hard gold 0.1-5.0mm;ENIG 0.2-7.0mm;Flash gold(electroplated gold) 0.15-5.0mm;Immersion Tin 0.4-5.0mm;Immersion silver 0.4-5.0mm;OSP 0.2-6.0mm
Max high to gold finger 1.5inch
Min space between gold fingers 6mil
Min block space to gold fingers 7.5mil
16 V-Cutting Panel Size 500mm X 622 mm  ( max. ) 500mm X 800 mm ( max. )
Board Thickness 0.50 mm (20mil) min. 0.30 mm (12mil) min.
Remain Thickness 1/3 board thickness 0.40 +/-0.10mm( 16+/-4 mil )
Tolerance ±0.13 mm(5mil) ±0.1 mm(4mil)
Groove Width 0.50 mm (20mil) max. 0.38 mm (15mil) max.
Groove to Groove 20 mm (787mil) min. 10 mm (394mil) min.
Groove to Trace 0.45 mm(18mil) min. 0.38 mm(15mil) min.
17 Slot Slot size tol.L≥2W PTH Slot: L:+/-0.13(5mil) W:+/-0.08(3mil) PTH Slot: L:+/-0.10(4mil) W:+/-0.05(2mil)
NPTH slot(mm) L+/-0.10 (4mil) W:+/-0.05(2mil) NPTH slot(mm) L:+/-0.08 (3mil) W:+/-0.05(2mil)
18 Min Spacing from hole edge to hole edge 0.30-1.60 (Hole Diameter) 0.15mm(6mil) 0.10mm(4mil)
1.61-6.50 (Hole Diameter) 0.15mm(6mil) 0.13mm(5mil)
19 Min spacing between hole edge to circuitry pattern PTH hole: 0.20mm(8mil) PTH hole: 0.13mm(5mil)
NPTH hole: 0.18mm(7mil) NPTH hole: 0.10mm(4mil)
20 Image transfer Registration tol Circuit pattern vs.index hole 0.10(4mil) 0.08(3mil)
Circuit pattern vs.2nd drill hole 0.15(6mil) 0.10(4mil)
21 Registration tolerance of front/back image 0.075mm(3mil) 0.05mm(2mil)
22 Multilayers Layer-layer misregistration 4layers: 0.15mm(6mil)max. 4layers: 0.10mm(4mil) max.
6layers: 0.20mm(8mil)max. 6layers: 0.13mm(5mil) max.
8layers: 0.25mm(10mil)max. 8layers: 0.15mm(6mil) max.
Min. Spacing from Hole Edge to Innerlayer Pattern 0.225mm(9mil) 0.15mm(6mil)
Min.Spacing from Outline to Innerlayer Pattern 0.38mm(15mil) 0.225mm(9mil)
Min. board thickness 4layers:0.30mm(12mil) 4layers:0.20mm(8mil)
6layers:0.60mm(24mil) 6layers:0.50mm(20mil)
8layers:1.0mm(40mil) 8layers:0.75mm(30mil)
Board thickness tolerance 4layers:+/-0.13mm(5mil) 4layers:+/-0.10mm(4mil)
6layers:+/-0.15mm(6mil) 6layers:+/-0.13mm(5mil)
8-12 layers:+/-0.20mm (8mil) 8-12 layers:+/-0.15mm (6mil)
23 Insulation Resistance 10KΩ~20MΩ(typical:5MΩ)
24 Conductivity <50Ω(typical:25Ω)
25 Test voltage 250V
26 Impedance control ±5ohm(<50ohm), ±10%(≥50ohm)

PCBTok offers flexible shipping methods for our customers, you may choose from one of the methods below.

1. DHL

DHL offers international express services in over 220 countries.
DHL partners with PCBTok and offers very competitive rates to customers of PCBTok.
It normally takes 3-7 business days for the package to be delivered around the world.

DHL

2. UPS

UPS gets the facts and figures about the world’s largest package delivery company and one of the leading global providers of specialized transportation and logistics services.
It normally takes 3-7 business days to deliver a package to most of the addresses in the world.

UPS

3. TNT

TNT has 56,000 employees in 61 countries.
It takes 4-9 business days to deliver the packages to the hands
of our customers.

TNT

4. FedEx

FedEx offers delivery solutions for customers around the world.
It takes 4-7 business days to deliver the packages to the hands
of our customers.

FedEx

5. Air, Sea/Air, and Sea

If your order is of large volume with PCBTok, you can also choose
to ship via air, sea/air combined, and sea when necessary.
Please contact your sales representative for shipping solutions.

Note: if you need others, please contact your sales representative for shipping solutions.

You can use the following payment methods:

Telegraphic Transfer(TT): A telegraphic transfer (TT) is an electronic method of transferring funds utilized primarily for overseas wire transactions. It’s very convenient to transfer.

Bank/Wire transfer: To pay by wire transfer using your bank account, you need to visit your nearest bank branch with the wire transfer information. Your payment will be completed 3-5 business days after you have finished the money transfer.

Paypal: Pay easily, fast and secure with PayPal. many other credit and debit cards via PayPal.

Credit Card: You can pay with a credit card: Visa, Visa Electron, MasterCard, Maestro.

Quick Quote
  • “I was fascinated with how PCBTok handled me genuinely and respectably. Not mentioning the fact that they provided me with a product that is really worth having. I feel like, the amount of money I paid them isn’t enough for the product that I received. I must say, I really reached the highest potential of the money I paid for them. Thank you for your accommodating and welcoming personnel, and for entertaining all of my questions with pure intentions. Once again, thank you so much, PCBTok!”

    Peter Craig, Computer Hardware Technician from Mississippi, USA
  • “This is my first time purchasing from them, and just like that, I found my home; my home where I can immediately run off to and purchase my PCB. I wasn’t expecting that much from them because it’s my first time purchasing a circuit board online, from China to be exact. However, they really set my standards so high. The PCB that I received from them is of premium quality. I have nothing more to say, I couldn’t find any holes in their process. Thank you PCBTok for this wonderful experience that I had with you; expect my name to keep popping up through your windows since I’ll be ordering from you, starting today. Hands down to your people, they deserve credits for their hard work.”

    Jessica Wagner, Process Engineer from British Columbia, Canada
  • “I just received my order from PCBTok today, and I am out of words. The products I received are all in perfect shape, with no damage, and it was delivered to me so quickly. The thing that makes this product amazing is because of what PCBTok promised me that I will receive. Additionally, they provided me with real-time updates while they were still working on my circuit board order. I also want to thank your staffs who assisted me right away with my inquiry and work that out immediately for me. You really are worthy to praise, you’re really living your principles. I’d like to congratulate you on having another customer who’ll be your solid purchaser from now on. I look forward to your constant services and products.”

    Austin Mayes, Engineering Technician from Yukon, Canada

PCB Plating – The Complete FAQ Guide

If you’re considering adding a conductive layer to your board, you’ve come to the right place. There are several types of PCB plating, and we’ve compiled a list of the most common questions and answers. Read on to learn how to get the best results. PCB Plating: The Completed FAQ Guide

What Is PCB Plating?

PCB plating is a common method for producing electronic circuit boards. It requires the application of ion-conducting metals to the surface of the circuit board. The ion-conducting metal is used as the substrate for subsequent steps of the process, such as chemical copper plating. Various chemicals are used in this process to form a uniform layer of copper on the board. The finished product is ready for use in electronic circuits where high-quality cache specifications are essential.

PCB plating is a key step in PCB manufacturing, as it ensures a perfect surface and the reliability of alignments and vias. Plating is the process of covering a PCB with a layer of material, such as copper, to protect it from the environment and daily wear and tear. PCB plating is also an important part of the final product, so it is vital to understand how it works.

The plating of circuit boards begins with annealed copper that has been softened by rollers. The copper will form a smooth outer surface that serves as the main component of the alignment. The copper is then plated with an ionic dispersion solution to improve the overall board performance. This is the first step in the process, which is critical because copper has the greatest weight and therefore has the greatest impact on the board.

PCB Plating Line

PCB Plating Line

Immersion silver is a common material used for PCB plating. Its benefits include electrical test compatibility and a beautiful finish. However, it is not the best choice for soldering, as it does not bond well to the gold wire, resulting in weak solder joints. It can also lose its luster under certain conditions. Therefore, it is essential to have skilled platers.

What is PCB Plating Thickness?

When looking for a plater, you must first determine what you need. IPC-2221A is the PCB plating thickness standard, which specifies minimum thicknesses for various product categories. Specialized fabs can be used to meet more specific requirements. Manufacturing instructions typically include plating thickness. Thickness decreases as the substrate become thinner. In general, the thicker the board, the better.

Copper thickness has a significant effect on the overall PCB thickness. The copper thickness will vary depending on the amount of current that must flow through the board. Copper thicknesses range from 1.4 mm to 2.8 mm for the inner layer and 2 ounces or more for the outer layer. However, customers can specify a specific thickness and the manufacturer will adjust the copper to fit it. Increasing copper thickness increases cost and requires more complex processing.

Plating of PCBs The thickness of copper applied to the surface of the board is called the thickness. Chemical solutions, temperatures, and timelines vary depending on the PCB manufacturing process. They also require different surface finishes. IPC Class III is recommended for those who need thicker layers. However, you can choose between plated and unplated PCBs. Make sure you understand the difference! Remember, you can always choose the best option for your project.

How to Choose PCB Plating and Thickness for Your PCB?

The thickness of the board is an important consideration when designing a PCB. While thicker PCBs are more flexible, they are also heavier. The thickness of the board depends on the size and flexibility of the board connectors and components. Listed below are some of the factors that affect PCB thickness. When deciding on the thickness of a board, keep in mind that thinner boards save space and are more flexible, while thicker boards take up more space.

The thickness of a PCB varies greatly. Typically, depending on the size of your PCB, you can choose between 0.008 inches and 0.240 inches. Select the thickness that is appropriate for the application and area of use. The thickness will be determined by the insulation layer and material content. The layers on early PCBs were made of Bakelite and were approximately 0.0065 inches thick.

The thickness of the PCB varies depending on the manufacturing process used. Standard PCB thickness allows for faster and cheaper manufacturing, while custom PCBs ensure proper functionality. Early in the design process, you should discuss PCB thickness requirements with the manufacturer. If your application requires advanced design techniques, you should also seek the advice of a specialized manufacturer. However, this process will be more expensive.

PCB PlatingThickness

PCB PlatingThickness

Copper thickness has a significant effect on PCB thickness. The thickness of copper depends on the type of current flowing through the PCB. Standard copper thicknesses range from 1.4 mm to 2.8 mm, while external copper thicknesses range from 2-3 ounces. Thicker copper means thicker PCBs and higher manufacturing costs. The choice of copper thickness is critical to the board.

What Is the PCB Plating Process?

PCB plating is accomplished by a variety of techniques. Brush plating, in-line plating, and direct plating are examples of these. Brush plating requires a special anode (e.g. graphite) encased in an absorbent material to deliver the plating solution to a specific area of the board. For example, a transistor can be plated on one side and an integrated circuit on the other.

In the case of acid copper plating, organic additives called carriers, brighteners, and leveling agents are required. By adjusting the current, these additives improve the physical and chemical properties of the coating. They also improve the grain structure of the board by increasing the effective thickness of the diffusion layer. This method produces high-quality PCBs.

PCB Plating Process

PCB Plating Process

Surface plating is also used on printed circuit boards. In this process, copper is plated onto a copper plate. The metal layers are deposited on the board, one layer on top of the other. A thin layer of tin is applied to the surface traces and through-holes. This metal can also be used to shield sensitive circuits. To produce the highest quality boards, a good contract manufacturer should understand the PCB plating process.

Surface plating, on the other hand, is a much more costly process. Surface plating protects the copper from corrosion and makes it easier to solder components. Through-hole plating, on the other hand, fills the drilled holes with copper, thus providing a current path. Copper is one of the most common metals plated in PCB manufacturing. It also thickens the surface pads and conductors, ensuring a strong connection between the layers.

Surface plating is a method of protecting the PCB’s exposed circuitry. The plating process also creates a solderable surface on the PCB, thus preventing the board from being damaged during assembly. The advantages and disadvantages of this method are discussed further below. Therefore, weigh the advantages and disadvantages of both methods to determine which method is best for your PCB. it is critical to know what you are working with before choosing a PCB plating process.

After cleaning the protruding contact tip, it must be immersed in 10% sulfuric acid. Another common material is nickel. Another process for covering protruding contacts is gold plating. Afterward, the protruding contact tip is placed in a cool environment for drying. If you are curious about how it is done, you can get a PCB quote online.

Copper is used in this process to form a conductive layer on the board. Plating can be applied to any part of the PCB, including the hole walls. When the copper layer is thick, a “pattern” plating process is used. The pattern is created by placing a copper layer on the copper surface of the board. As a result of the copper layer, a conductive carbon layer is formed.

How Many Types of Materials Used for PCB Plating?

FR-4, FR-12, and copper-clad laminates are commonly used in PCB plating. The thickness of FR-4 glass-reinforced epoxy laminates is measured in millimeters (mm). Typically, four or more layers are thicker, with a minimum thickness of 1.6 mm. Planar layers have a copper thickness of 35 microns. Boards with multiple applications are typically thicker, with copper thicknesses ranging from 5 to 35 microns.

A variety of other metals are used in PCB plating. For example, copper is the most commonly used material because it helps to connect the circuits. In addition to copper, surface traces are used to conduct electrical currents. These types of surfaces are often found between components and connectors. At the same time, copper helps to connect the circuits. Surface traces are flat rectangular surfaces made of copper that help to connect circuits.

PCB Plating Sample

PCB Plating Sample

PCBs may contain a large number of vias, which are holes through which signals pass. Through-holes are often tents. There is usually no path underneath the vias. A “through-hole” is another type of hole (a hole through a plated PCB).

The thickness of copper on a PCB is measured in pounds per square foot. This facilitates measurement. 1.344 mils is one ounce of copper per square foot (35 microns). By comparison, a heavy copper layer contains three or more ounces of copper per square foot. This material is used when the current on the board is very high because thick copper is best for heat dissipation.

Top 4 Types of Plating Methods for PCB Manufacturing

There are four types of plating used in PCB manufacturing. The type of plating you use is critical to the reliability and surface finish of your board. Learn about the four plating types so you can choose the method that best suits your design. Once you have determined the type of plating, you can begin the construction process. Here are some examples of plating methods to help you through the process. There are two general types of plating: surface alignment and through-hole.

Surface plating is the process of applying a protective layer of tin to the copper traces. The coating protects against moisture, oxidation, and contamination. Edge plating is an excellent choice for PCBs with through-hole and surface traces. In this process, a thin layer of metal is applied to the copper on the PCB. This protects the copper traces while also improving board connectivity.

Copper is the primary material used in PCB plating. Copper was traditionally plated with lead-based tin, but nickel and gold have since replaced it to comply with RoHS standards. Plating also requires component solderability. Copper is not always a viable option. Copper-plated boards are usually more durable than unplated boards.

Brushing concentrates on specific areas of the printed circuit board. To bring the plating solution to the desired area, anodes wrapped in absorbent material are used. Copper plating is often used for surface traces because it protects the pads while also providing a current path. Copper plating is also widely used in electronics assembly shops. It is an excellent choice for assembling electronics and reworking scrap boards.

Copper plating

Copper plating

Send Your Inquiry Today
Quick Quote
Scroll to Top